Me, Lord? Me?

00-hero-alone-cover-kindle-mediumOh Lord, my God. I do not always understand you. But I trust you no matter what happens in my personal life, in my city, my nation, the world. I know you have everything under control. You step back sometimes to let the true motives of bad people be seen at the expense of people they hurt. I do not always understand you. But I trust you no matter what happens to my body during plagues and to the earth during natural disasters. No matter what happens, I will trust you and praise you. I will never turn away from you as long as you give me strength to do so. May I die praising you.

My Father, thank you for making me your child. I am a child of the Creator of greater things than I can ever see or understand ~ me just a spec in the cosmos! How is that possible? I am a child of the King over all kings, the Lord over all lords. I am a child of the self-existent one who chose to make me, protect me, and love me. Me, Lord?  Me?  I fall at your feet in gratitude and heart thanks.

.

00-hero-alone-cover-kindle-lgthumbnailYOU CAN BE A HERO ALONE: SURVIVAL STORIES FOR THE COURAGEOUS ISOLATED CHRISTIAN.  Each chapter is the story of someone in the Bible who had to stand alone.  At the end are multiple choice questions and thought questions to challenge the reader’s personal life.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  http://bit.ly/HeroesAlone

.

#TrustGod, #pandemics, #disasters, #Godisincontrol, #childoftheking, #childofGod, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/1107-2/you-can-be-a-hero-alone-survival-stories-for-the-isolated-christian/

Come to me! I am doing everything I can to help you!

0-BK 4-FolkHero-Cover-Kindle-medium-newThe scripture for today, August 12 (8/12), is John 8:12 as found in the New Testament of the Bible:

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.’ “

Jesus had only about six months left to live. He knew the religious leaders were after his life out of jealousy. Before going to Jerusalem, he told his brothers, “The world cannot hate you, but it hates me” (John 7:7). Knowing people were wanting to kill him, he slipped into Jerusalem after everyone else got there (John 7:10, 14). Then suddenly, he appeared in the middle of the Temple complex ~ the size of many football fields. He knew he was safe as long as there was a crowd.

Jesus answered some private questions, and then “he called out, ‘You know me! You know where I am from!’ ” (John 7:28).

Every day of this feast, a priest would ceremonially pour out some water to represent the water that poured out of the rock when the Jews wandered in the wilderness. But on the last day, the priest did not do this, for it represented their ancestors finally arriving in the Promised Land. It was on this last day of the feast that Jesus “stood and said in a loud voice…  ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink! Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him!’ ” (John 7:38f)

First thing the next morning at dawn, he returned to the Temple court. Maybe there was a beautiful sunrise. When the sun was up, and the crowds had returned, he shouted something else to everyone, “I am the light of the world!” (John 8:12).

He had compared himself to the water ceremony of the day before, and now he was comparing himself to the new dawn. There he was. God materialized on earth, crying out to humanity. “Come to me! I am doing everything I can to help you! Won’t you come? Please listen to me! Please come! I can save you from hell!”

Such stubborn love.

.

0-BK 4-FolkHero-Cover-Kindle-thumbnail-newFOLK HERO is lyrical novel #4 in the series THEY MET JESUS.  He has performed a few miracles, selected his 12 aides, and now he gets down to the business of some heavy-duty miracles and astounding sermons. People flock to him from Palestine and nearby countries. They cannot get enough of their FOLK HERE.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this:  http://bit.ly/FolkHero

.

#Wateroflife, #breadoflife, #lightofworld, #savedfromhell, #killjesus, #savedfromhell, #Folkhero, #Theymetjesus, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/historical-novel-about-jesus/book-4-folk-hero-adults-childs-versions/

And They Wept

04-Isaac&Jacob-KindleMediumThe scripture for today, August 10 (8/10), is Nehemiah 8:10b as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

“This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

After exile over 70 years for forsaking God, the Jews were led by Ezra and Nehemiah back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and rebuild the wall. On a special day, Ezra read the Law of Moses to all the people.

And they wept.

They were so embarrassed and so sorry they had betrayed God. The above scripture quotation is from that occasion.

But many people find it too humiliating to admit to others they were wrong. Others find it easy to repent, but never regroup and pull themselves up so they can try again. Still, others say, “What I’ve done is so bad, God could never forgive me.”

God can perform miracles. That means he can forgive the greatest sinner. So grieve. Ask for forgiveness. Then start over fresh ~ innocent in the eyes of God.

Remember, when you feel weak, the joy of the Lord is always your strength. And it is magnificent.

.


04-Isaac&Jacob-KindleThumbnailISAAC & JACOB is storybook #4 in A CHILD’S BIBLE HEROES.  You would think a little lie wouldn’t hurt.  Or even a big lie.  But Jacob’s lie cost him everything. It disrupted his entire family.  His twin brother tried to kill him.  He was gone from home for 20 years and during that time he lost his mother.  Talk about a dysfunctional family. But God healed them.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  http://bit.ly/2LacnWf

.

#Forgiveness, #Bigsins, #littlesins, #sorrow, #repent, #humiliating, #Ezra, #Nehemiah, #JacobandEsau, #IsaacandRebecca, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/a-childs-bible-heroes-book-4-isaac-jacob/?frame-nonce=1e7c6b1760

He will not leave you or forsake you.

The scripture for today, July 14 (7/14), is 2nd Chronicles 7:14 as found in the Old Testament of the Bible:

00- Worship Changes KC COVER-thumbnail“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

There is always a little bit of turmoil in all nations of the world. Of course, there is more in some. The average person cannot make their own nation call on God. But the average person can do this: “I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone ~ for kings and all those in authority” (I Timothy 2:1-2). Further, we should pray for them by name.

Even if you think some people in authority in your nation are against you, you must pray for them anyway. Then wait quietly for God to work things out. It may take Him a year, a decade or a lifetime to bring about your heart’s desire for your nation. But keep praying.

Your job, in the meantime, is to follow God’s ways yourself. Romans 13:1,3-4 says, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established…For rulers hold no terror for those who do right….For he is God’s servant to do you good.”

God is aware of the suffering going on around you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

.

00- Worship Changes KC COVER-thumbnailWORSHIP CHANGES SINCE THE FIRST CENTURY tells what changes were made in their exact year and what they did to people who protested.  All members of the Restoration Movement should read this.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/3eqMQXc

.

#kings, #presidents, #primeministers, #governments, #inequality, #worshipchangessincefirstcentury, #persecution, #illegal, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

My heart opens like a flower in sunshine

0-BK 2-DreamMaker-cover-kindle-medium-newI come to you on bended knees as your subject and your child. I come to you with limited words, limited thoughts, limited wisdom. Take what I have, Lord God, and use it. Take my hands to work for you. Take my feet to walk for you. Take my lips to speak for you. Take my songs, my prayers, my life. You are majestic sweetness that leans low and embraces me. You keep me working, and walking and speaking. You keep me singing, praying and living for you, as you live for me. You are the lover of my soul. You are all glory, all wonder, all holy. Praised be your very name, the self-existent one, the I AM.

It is summer. The flowers are blooming, the birds are teaching their young ones to fly, the early crops are beginning to come in. The rains are gentle, the sun is lazy, the breeze floats easily through my hair. The snows on the mountain are melted for a while, the deer and bears are roaming the forests for berries, the waters are slowing to let the fishes play. Your world is so beautiful. And you made it all for us as our garden. My heart opens up like a flower in sunshine and blesses you with my thanksgiving.

.

0-BK 2-DreamMaker-cover-kindle-new-thumbnailDREAM MAKER is biblical historical novel #2 in the THEY MET JESUS series.  He overcomes Satan in the wilderness, begins teaching, and along the way chooses his 12 emissaries who will some day give their life for him.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………. https://bit.ly/30P7jSi

.

#praise, #thanksgiving, #singing, #flowers, #summertime, #rainshowers, #dreammaker, #theymetjesus, #katherynmaddoxhaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

https://inspirationsbykatheryn.wordpress.com/historical-novel-about-jesus/book-2-dream-maker-adults-childs-versions-2/

Invincible Faith

The scripture for today, June 29 (6/29), is John 6:29 , as found in the New Testament of the Bible.

“Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: To believe in the one he has sent.’ “

Yes, it is true that the gift of salvation is just that ~ a gift, a free gift. That’s because God was the only one powerful enough to overcome Satan.  Satan wanted God’s death as a ransom in order to free you from your bondage to him. God gave Satan what he thought he wanted because it resulted in Jesus destroying the power of Death.

And it is true that you cannot be good enough to earn salvation from Satan because you don’t know how to be sinless, and heaven can only be occupied by the perfectly sinless. Satan is always lurking in the shadows to lure you back. It only takes one sin to be a dinner.

But at the same time, James 2:18 says, “Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.” In other words, there are things you need to do to obtain salvation. You have to believe there is a gift for you somewhere, walk over to it, reach out, and grasp it.

Believing is a work because you have to find and spend time listening to or reading the Word before you can believe. And Jesus himself said believing (faith) is a work.

How do you go about obtaining faith? By believing what other people tell you to believe? Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing/reading the Word of God ~ the Bible. It is going directly to God’s Words to find out for yourself. It takes a little bit of work to read through it. But then, you can know that what you believe is really what God said.

What a marvelous, delightful, magnificent thing it is to find out what this invisible God did for you and to bask in the glory of such knowledge through invincible faith.

.

NAAMAN’S MAID is storybook #3 in A CHILD’S BIBLE KIDS.  Often it is the children who teach the grownups.  This little girl has so much faith, she was sure her master could and would be healed by the prophet Elisha.  Such examples the little children are for us.  “Think and Do” at the end of each chapter. To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this………https://bit.ly/38dRhmK

.

#faith, #works, #giftofsalvation, #satan, #overcomingdeath, #naamansmaid, #leprosy, #Damascus, #prophetelisha, #jordanriver, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

I never thought I’d say this

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailIt is  Sunday, the morning nearly 2000 years ago that you rose up out of your grave to live again forever. Oh, glorious day! Oh, mighty day! Day unforgettable! How amazing. Your work was done. The hardest part was at the end. But you did it.You paid that terrible ransom  ~ the death of God. But it is Satan who lost, not you because you freed us from him. It was Death who lost, not you because you came back to life. It was Sin who lost, not you because you lived and died without ever sinning.  It is impossible to kill Life.  Why doesn’t Satan give up? He knows he has lost but will not admit it.  So, I march on with you, fighting selfishness so that pure love will be all that is left. With you is all might, all glory, all majesty. I worship you.

I thank you, God, for your balanced sense of justice and mercy. You do not punish because you like doing it. You punish to help me realize the seriousness of my thoughts and deeds. You punish to avenge the hurt I caused good people trying to do right. You punish to make me stronger. But you do not punish forever. You punish, then wait for me to return to you. You punish to stop me in my tracks, take a hard look at myself, and make changes. Your punishment is like walking on sand; as soon as I take another step, the previous step has already begun refilling. Punishment is just momentary until I stop, turn, and move over onto the solid rock of faith in you.  There, I see myself as I am and hurry to walk in your footsteps that are embedded deep so I can always find you. I never thought I’d say this, but thank you for punishing me when I need it. How you love. How you love.

.

0-BK 7-ShadowOfDeath-Cover-new-ThumbnailSHADOW OF DEATH is biblical historical novel #7 in the series THEY MET JESUS.  He was in charge. He was always in church.  To condemn him, the high priest had to say the words, “Son of God.” At his trial and when being beaten, he was in charge. Even on the cross he was in charge. He looked helpless, but he was orchestrating the whole thing.  To  BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/2UcggRE

.

#punishment, #crucifixion, #sinlessness, #perfection, #death, #burial, #resurrection, #sin, #Satan, #theymetjesus, #shadowofdeath, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

The presence of divine majesty

0-BK 2-DreamMaker-cover-kindle-new-thumbnailHeaven stirs. The song comes near. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Angel wings are heard then stilled.  Prayers rise from earth and soar to your majestic throne.  The mountains declare your glory and the ocean answers with a mighty roar.  Your love is like trees in a storm, bending but not breaking, and coming back stronger than ever. My praises break forth from my heart, dear Lord, in jubilation. The forests shiver in excitement and the tiniest creature answers with its little squeak.

It is dawn. The sun is shining today. We have had a lot of rain and that made the gardens happy. Now the sun is back, gleaming in a deep blue sky while cottony white clouds bounce here and there in satisfaction. Delightful serendipity. No matter what the heavens bring day by day, I thank you for that, and I smile. And I worship you.

.

0-BK 2-DreamMaker-cover-kindle-new-thumbnailDREAM MAKER is lyrical historical novel #2 in the THEY MET JESUS series. Jesus reveals his identity with his miracles. Most of those who believe are foreigners. He begins recruiting future apostles who still do not grasp that, though a man stands before they, they are in the presence divine majesty disguised as a carpenter.  To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/30P7jSi

#Andrew, #Philip, #Nathaniel, #Peter, #Jesusmiracles, #Cana, #motherinlawhealed, #centurionservant, #stewardsson, #priestgreed, #poorwidow, #Nicodemus, #Samaritan, #dreammaker, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

They Fill the Gaps

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-I praise you, God of my heart, soul and mind, God of the Bible. You never leave me guessing. As in days of old, you judge my thoughts and actions and sometimes punish enough to make me realize how self-destructive I am being. I hear your voice and  turn around toward you. You call out to me. Sometimes I am stubborn, but you are even more so. Your patience and mercy fill in the gaps. So, sometimes when I wander in a wilderness of my own making, you call out to me, “I have the Water of Life. You do not have to be thirsty. I am the Way. You no longer have to wander.  I want you to walk with me. You do not have to be alone.”

Father, help me ask people how they are and then wait for more of an answer rather than just “fine”. Slow me down so I do not wander off before they have a chance to tell me how they really are.

I have freedom to walk down the street and ride down the highway in safety. I have gardens with food and flowers in abundance. I have time to work on my hobby. I have the Bible ~ Words of life  and love. I have the church and your friendship. What more can I ask?

.

00-PAUL COVER-Thumbnail-PAUL: THE UNSTOPPABLE. Dare to experience with him every rod slamming into his bones, every whiplashing through his skin, every breath struggled for when treading water a day and night. Survive with him through all the shipwrecks, going days without food, a snow storm in the Taurus Mountains, being robbed on the highway. Listen as, each time his body is mercilessly attacked, he calls out, “Jesus! This is for you!”  To  BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/3fw2mlA

.

.#judge, #self-destruction, #walkwithgod, #freedom, #pauloftarsus, #unstoppable, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer

An Amazing Step-Father

0-Joseph-Cover-ThumbnailThe more I look to you, my God, the dimmer this world becomes. The more I strain to be with you, the hazier with world and all its busyness seems. As I travel toward you, earth fades and heaven grows more in focus.  Life here becomes less important and all that heaven holds grows in magnitude. Each step I take draws me closer to you. Each path I take is smoother. Each breath is sweeter. And my view of home becomes clearer day by day.

I love you, God. And I fear you.  You have the power to save and to turn away.  After all, heaven is your home. You are not obligated to share it with anyone who wants in because they consider themselves “not so bad”. And, well, they prayed, but only when they wanted something.  And were bored worshipping you so would be in heaven. Such “not so bad” people would be so bored in heaven, they would turn it into another earth.  Thank you for keeping heaven a place of peace, excitement and wonder and never ever be bored.

.

0-Joseph-Cover-ThumbnailJOSEPH: THE OTHER FATHER is novel 5 in the INTREPID MEN OF GOD SERIES.  Imagine being told by God to guard His Son in a violent world until he is grown. How does Joseph choose a city in strange Egypt to hide 2-year-old Jesus from Herod’s spies? Does he dare take 4-year-old Jesus to the temple where now-dead Herod’s son slaughters thousands? To BUY NOW, click a book cover or paste this……….  https://bit.ly/30FFlbC

.

#heaven, #afterlife, #fear, #power, #Josephtheotherfather, #Egypt, #KatherynMaddoxHaddad, #inspiration, #devotional, #worship, #vespers, #meditation,. #godliness, #Christianity, #JesusChrist, #church, #Bible, #Scripture, #HolyBook, #religion, #love, #truth, #praise, #worship, #prayer